10 And here is my judgment(A) about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.(B) 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness(C) to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has,(D) not according to what one does not have.

13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need,(E) so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”[a](F)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 8:15 Exodus 16:18

10 And in this matter I am giving my opinion: it is beneficial for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something.(A) 11 Now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means.(B) 12 For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.(C) 13 For I do not mean that there should be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality between 14 your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may also supply your need, in order that there may be equality. 15 As it is written,

“The one who had much did not have too much,
    and the one who had little did not have too little.”(D)

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10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.

11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.

12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

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